Comparing Close-Up Lens Choices

I was asked a question a while back when I first got the D FA28-105mm, about how it compared with the F35-70mm. I remembered this when I found these little flowers to photograph, and as well I got out my Tamron 70-300. So I had the DFA (non-macro but very close focussing), the F35-70 (1:4 macro) and Tamron 70-300 (1:2 macro).

I used my softbox on the ground close to the flowers, allowing me to shoot at 1/180th and stopping well down ….

Here's couple with the F35-70, at 70mm with the macro setting …. ISO 100 / F13 & ISO 200 F16










Now I tried the same flower at similar magnification with the 28-105 at the long end …. ISO 100 /F11






Lastly I got closer in with the Tamron zoom at 270mm and its macro range ….. I was surprised at how the DOF dropped away dramatically ….. ISO 200 / F13






All in all I feel glad to have these lens options available. I think the F35-70 just sneaks ahead of the D FA28-105 in sharpness, however this is comparing 70mm against 105mm. I don't have a real macro lens, but for my purposes these will do! I find the flash helps with contrast and exposure challenges as well as allowing handholding for these sorts of shots.

McGregNi, I use a Marumi 5+ achromatic macro “filter” on the DFA 28-105mm for excellent results close up. It is handy to keep in the bag and just pop on when opportunities present themselves without the weight and expense of a separate macro lens.

I am completely aligned to your conclusion Nigel: both decent but the 35-70 has the edge in this exercise.

I have carried out the same type of exercise with the 28-105, 18-135, 24-70 and 70-200, conclusion: the expensive and large DFA's (24-70 and 70-200) are good but do not exhibit a step change over the smaller zooms and in the field the 18-135 is always in my bag.

However, for indoor work and event work the 24-70 is a good lens, Still not overly impressed with the 70-200 though maybe because I am used to the 60-250 which I sold to buy the 70-200.

Of course this is all subjective so I have to keep in mind what the charts show, one thing is certain though I won't part with the innocuous little 18-135. Best travel lens I have owned.

Regards

Daronl

I love the F 35-70. It's a cracking lens that everyone ought to try - and they go for under £20 on E bay regularly. One that did surprise me is the Samsung D Zenon 50-200 (Pentax DA 50-200 clone) which is said to be better than its parent. I bought it from Simonmac a week or so ago. This is the very first shot I took with it on my K5. No flash, natural light and handheld. It's a fairly severe crop, rotated about 150 degrees as the bee was hanging upside down !




This is clearly not a macro lens but one can't complain about what it can do!

Great lens, great shot